Gospel of John 09.vp

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The Gospe l of John

D. Doing greater works than the works of Jesus, 14.12-14

1. The one who believes will do the works that I do , 14.12.

2. That same believer will also do greater works than these because I am going to the Father. What are these “greater works”?

a. The “geographical breadth” of the disciples’ preaching ministry: Acts 1.8, i.e., to the “ends of the earth.”

b. The “numerical results” of their ingathering: Matt. 28.19-20, i.e., since the time of Jesus, from 120 to hundreds and hundreds of millions

c. The ingathering of the Gentile nations into the family of God , Eph. 3.1-10; Rom. 16.25-27; Col. 1.24-27

3. The power of Jesus’ name: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son , 14.13. (What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?, see Yarbrough, p. 147. W. Bingham Hunter’s analysis.)

a. To pray for God’s glory (i.e., 14.13)

b. To pray upon the promise and merit of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion, resurrection, and intercession at the Father’s right hand (14.6).

c. To pray on the precondition of our obedience to Christ’s commands (15.7).